Shoe-counter flexor



W. J. KAPPEL.

v SHOE COUNTER FLEXOR. APPLICATION FILED MAR. a, 1921.

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n m T T Patented Aug. 1, 1922?.

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To all whom may concern.

Be it known th at I, VVILLIAM J. KArrnL, a citizen of the United States,and resident of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State ofWisconsin, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Shoe-Counter Flexors; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull,clear, and exact description thereof.

invention refers to machines or presses for softening shoe counters, andit has for its object to provide a simple, economical and effectivedevice for forming the functions mentioned, the same being soconstructed and arranged that it can be manufactured in two parts, andwherein machine work is eliminated, to thus reduce the cost of thestructure materially, whereby it can be sold to the trade at a minimumfig ure, it being borne in mind that such 1nachines must be simple inconstruction and developed in such manner that they will not readilybecome out of order through rough usage.

With the above object in view, the invention consists in certainpeculiarities of construction and combination of parts, as arehereinafter set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings andsubsequently claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a shoe counter softening machineembodying the features of my invention.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional plan view of the same. the section beingindicated by line 22 of Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is a detail cross-section through the counter gripping members,the section being indicated by line 3-3 of Figure 1, the said viewshowing the relative position of the anvil and gripping fingersassociated therewith.

Referring by characters to the drawings, 1 represents the base plate ofa bracket, which bracket is formed with a standard 2, the sameterminating at its upper end with an offset arm 3, the end of whichforms a fixed anvil 4. The anvil is shown preferably round incross-section and it is encased in a flexible tube section 4 to thusprotect the leather of a shoe counter from injury. The base of thebracket is adapted to be permanently secured to a support. The post isapertured directly under the am 3, for the EXOR.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug. Lt, 1%22, Applicationfiled March 8,1921. .Serial No. 450,731

reception of a pivot bolt which bolt serves as a fulcrum for fork arms66, as shown W1 Figure :2, the same being apertured for the reception ofthe bolt 5. The fork arms at one end are merged intoa hand lever 7. andthe forward ends of said fork arms terinmate with pressure fingers 8-8,which fingers, as shown in F igurefi, are oval in cross section, thesame being arrangedunder and parallel to the anvil and being spacedapart in such manner that the inner convex walls thereof will approachcorresponding walls of the anvil when the lever is manipulated to effecta shoe counter softening operation.

It will be observed that the fork members 6 6 which extend below andparallel with the bracket arm 3 are of such dimensions and length, as torender them flexible under strain. Hence, when they are forced towardthe anvil they will exert positive squeezing action upon the shoecounter worked upon, while at the same time their resiliency will permitthem to spread apart slightly so as to perform somewhat an ironingfunction.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that in operation theshoe counter is slipped over the pressure fingers, and if the shoe is ofthe boot type, there is ample room for the top thereof, due to the factthat a long throat effect is had between the fingers and arm 3 of thebracket. whereby clearance of the top is effected.

After the shoe is inserted in place, the operator simply presses thehand lever 7 downwardly, repeating this operation indefinitely and ateach movement of the lever the counter, which is squeezed between theanvil and the fingers, will be worked or hammered back and forth so asto soften it, while at the same time the counter or shoe can be rolledso as to change the point of contact between the fingers and anvil.Hence, the counter is thoroughly softened throughout its entiresemicircular area, quickly and eflectively.

Obviously, while I have shown a simple lever for obtaining the desiredpressure between the working parts of the machine, I may utilize inconnection withthe lever a cam or screw element for increasing thepressure if desired.

While I have shown and described a simple eXcmplification of myinvention in all of anvil,

1. As a new article of manufacture, a basebracket having an overhangingarm terminating with a fixed cylindrical anvil, and a forked leverpivoted to the arm, the. fork terminating with pressure fingers"parallel the anvil and spaced apart equal distances from a verticalalignment through said 2. As a new article of manufacture, a supportingbracket having an overhanging arm, the arm terminating with a circularanvil, and a. lever in pivotal union with the bracket. the lever havinga fork projecting therefrom in alignment with the arm, the forkterminating with pressure fingers adapted to engage the opposite wallsof the anvil, and the said fork being capable of yielding under suchstrain of engagement.

3. As anew 1 article of manufacture, a bracket having an overhanging armterminating with an anvil, circular in cross-section, a yielding jackettube fitted about the anvil, and a forked lever in pivotal union withthe bracket the forked ends being extended parallel with the bracketarm, and said fork members terminating with fingers having convexedinner walls adapted to engage the walls of the anviljacket.

' Intestim'ony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand atMilwaukee, in

the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin.

WILLIAM J. KAPPEL.

